Method of drying air.



J. GAYLEY.

METHOD OF DRYING AIR. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 14. 1909.

Patented Sept. 5, 1911.

4 SHEETSSHEET 1.

QQQQQ QQQQ QQQQQ QQQ Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q QQQQQQ QQQQQ QQQQQQ QQQQQQQQQQQ QN INVENTOR WITNESSES I I l J. GAYLBY.

METHOD OF DRYING AIR. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 14. 1909.

1,002,577, Patented Sept. 5,1911.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 21 WITNESSES INYENTOR J. GA YLEY.

METHOD OF DRYING AIR.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 14. 1909.

Patented Sept. 5, 1911.

4 SHEETSSHEET 3.

E'Ill INVENTOR oowooa acne 00000-0000 oooooeaco sooo ooou a new com 0000usmmaooau cocoa Q auaaoa 0 o o o u a a a 0 o o o e o o moooaauna Q mMIG.

oaeooamoo osooomosa yam? m:z azzzgssg w an an m: cm

E MN WITNESSES J. GAYLEY.

METHOD OF DRYING AIR.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.14. 1909.

1,002,577, Patented Sept. 5, 1911.

4 SHEETSBHEET 4.

ITNESSES 1 NvENToR W z t k f dlaw 4... M

JAMES GAYLEY, or NEW YORK, N. Y.

METHOD or DRYING AIR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept 5, 1911.

Application filed January 14, 1909'. Serial No. 472,278..

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES GAYLEY, of New York, in the county of New Yorkand State of New York, have invented a new and useful Method of DryingAir, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of thisspecification, in which Figure 1 is a sectional side elevation 6fapparatus arranged to carry out my process; Fig. 2'is a horizontal crosssection of the same; Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional View of the coolingtower; Fig. 4 is a detail view showing the piping connections betweenthe cooling tower and the refrigerating building, and Fig. 5 is a sideelevation showing the arrangement of the refrigerating apparatus,blowing engine and furnace.

My invention relates to the drying of air by refrigeration, particularlyin connection with the use of the air blast for blast furnaces, steelconverters, etc.

The object of the invention is to reduce the cost of installationfor arefrigerating. plant required to handle a given quantity of airthroughout the year, and at the same time decrease the cost ofoperation.

The invention relates more specifically to a two-stage system, whereinthe air is first exposed to direct contact with water in the firststage, and in the second stageis further refrigerated by contact withpipes or 'conduits in which a non-congealable artificially cooled fluidis circulated.

The invention consists in certain improvements of the cooling stepswhich give an advantage over ordinary two-stage processes heretoforeemployed. I

In the systemsof my prior patents which have been in use, the sameapparatus has.

been used for refrigerating the air throughout the year, the coolingmediumbeing circulated through pipe coils and the air blast being passedover these coils. A part of the moisture is taken out of the blastin'the shape of rain and part ofit in the form of snow or ice congealingon the coils. In the warm months, owing to the high temperature of theair and its higher content of moisture, the energy required torefrigerate it is much larger than during the winter months. Inasmuch,however, as a uniformly low content of moisture is required in order toobtain the best results, it Is necessary to build a plant of sufficientsize to handle the gas is delivered into the compressor.

maximum amount of moisture at the maximum temperature of the summermonths, part of this plant, therefore, being idle during the wintermonths. My invention not only overcomes these difficulties with theindirect system, but also improves the twostage system, wherein it hasbeen proposed to first bring the air into direct contact with water inthe first stage, and then into contact with conduits containing anartificially cooled liquid in the second stage.

In carrying out my invention, I first pass the air upwardly through acooling tower in the opposite direction to a spray or rain of,

water, preferably cooled to about 33 F. The air is preferably forcedthrough this cooling chamber under a low pressure by means of a fan orsuitable pressure device, and then passes to another fan or suitablepressure device by which it is then forced through a second chamber orchambers in which it is cooled by contact with cooling channels toor'below a temperature of zero degrees C. Thelmoisture in the air ispreferably reduced to about 2.8 grains per cubic foot in the firststage, andto from 1 to 1.5 grains per cubic foot in the second stage. Bythis system the air blast is delivered to the indirect refrigeratingchambers with a substantially uniform moisture content. I also providefor cutting out the cooling tower or towers during the winter months lowand supply the air directly to the second chamber when desirable. I alsopreferably spray the air before it enters' the cooling tower, thesesprays being preferably supplied with the excess water used in the cool-I ing tower itself.

' The cooling of the water for the cooling tower is preferably carriedout by means of an ammonia condenser which will require comparativelysmall energy, owing to the small degree of cooling, this resulting in ahigh back pressure under which the com, pressor will work economically.Ihe refrigerating capacity of an ammonia compressor depends upon thenumber of pounds of gas it will handle in a given unit of time Theweight of ammonia gas handled depends upon the etficiency of thecompressor, and upon the suction pressure at which the Since the weightof ammonia gas varies approximately as the absolute pressure, t followsthat the refrigerating capacity of an ammonia compressor working under asuction pressure of thirty pounds will have about fifty per cent.greater capacity than one working under fifteen pounds gage pressure;This ammonia compressor cooling the water down to 33 F., w1ll work atabout fortyfive pounds back. pressure when cooling water from 80 to 33F., so it will work unthe lower ends of the chambers 3, and the der veryeconomical conditions; The air. will leave the cooling tower at about40-F., and with three grains per cubic foot or less moisture.

In the drawings, 2 represents the cooling tower which I have shown asdivided into four chambers ,3, each provided with an external air duct4, of sheet metal or other suitable material. The upper end of this duct4 is open and preferably protected by a spaced apart roof 5. These ductsare of considerable length and I preferably arrange spray devicesG intheir upper portion to which water is supplied'through pipes 7.

.This spray will filter away the coarse 1mpurities of the air and alsocool it somewhat.

The lower ends ofthe ducts terminate in catch basins 8, where the dirtywater is collected andled to the'sewer.

The lower portions of the ducts open into ports are preferably providedwith fans 9, which willforce the air from the ducts into the coolingchambers against the resistanceof the sprays in the chambers, of which Ihave shown four, formed by the" partitions 10.

I preferably arrange inclined baflie plates 11 at the lower ends of thecooling chambers "opposite to the fans to deflect the air, up-

wardly and as the air rises, it is preferably split up by grids or gratework which I have shown as consisting of round wooden poles12, which areimpregnated to resist the rotting action of the water, thoughanysuitable arrangementjof baflie plates may be used. The function ofthese baflles is to give the largest possible contact between the up-;

as being lifted by a pump lath-rough pipe.

20 to the top of the'tower, and through a series of pipes 21, which aresplit longitudi nally, from which .it overflows evenly over the coils22, carrying the ammonia at a low temperature which 'cools the water.to. justabove the freezing. point. The overflbiwing water collects in atank 23, which forms the cross partition between the air chambers andthe ammonialoft and in which a constant water level ismaintainedslightly below the coils. corrugated, as shown at 24, and from thesecorrugations the water is fed through a large number-of pipes 25, toopen troughs 26. The use of the corrugated bottom of the tank and thelong pipes leading from it to the troughs is especially efiicient incooling the air. An air space must be left between the tank and thegrating to allow the unimpeded passage of the air to the outlet pipe 13,as a mist or water spray in this space would hinder the air passage. Theuse of the pipes from the tank to'the trough do not clog up or interferewith the air passage, but as they contain very cold water and arearranged in zig-zag or staggered form, the air comes into intimatecontact with them and is effectually cooled.

As before stated, the grate-work or bafli'e plates and air chamberssplit up the descending water into a fine mist and break up theascending .air into small currents which mix thoroughly therewith, thuseffecting a-maximum cooling of the air with a minimum amount of water.The Water overflows uniformly from'the open troughs and is split up bythe grate-Work and evenly distributed. This water is collected at thebottom of the tower in ditches 27 and is drawn from these ditches bypipes 27, leading to pump 19, which again lifts the water to the top ofthe cooling tower. The water is thus used over and over again, thusgiving a gain in efliciency, owing to the low temperature of the watercollected at the bottom of thechamber. A pipe connection this is shownas provided with a series of separate chambers 29, having lower valves30, admitting air-from the supply ducts, the .air rising among the coils31 and passing through valves 32 in the branch pipes, con

nected to the off-take main 33. The coils with brine at a lowtemperature and the air is preferably reduced to about zero degrees C.

In Fig. 5, 34 represents the blowing engine located between the dryingapparatus and the blast furnace 35. This blowing The bottom of the tankis' 28 to the pump is used for starting. As the in these refrigeratingchambers are supplied blast furnace or point of use.

The advantages of my invention result from using water in the coolingtower at a temperature of about 33 F.; also from forcing the air throughthe system and more specifically by forcing air through the 0001- mgtower and then forcing it through thesecond indirect cooling chamber orchambers. This overcomes the difliculties and uncertainty incident todrawing the air through these chambers. Another advantage lies inspraying the'air before it enters the cooling tower and preferably usingfor this purpose the surplus water from the cooling tower. A furtheradvantageresults from providing the fan or forcing means between thecooling tower. and the second stage chamber,

- as thereby I can cut out the first chamber and also provide moreefiicient operation of the second chamber. Any one of the secondchambers -is preferably smaller than the cooling tower, as the majoramount of the moisture is taken out in the cooling tower and only aboutone-half of the remaining moisture is removed in the second stage. Byproviding the preliminary cooling chambers, the Work of therefrigerating chambers is made uniform and continuous. throughout theyear, so that they may be properly designed for this continuous work.When the amount of moisture in the air is large, as through the summermonths, the cooling tower will be used, as above described, while in thewinter months, it may be discarded and air led direct into therefrigerating chambers, or the cooling chambers may be used in part, asdesired. The operating cost is reduced and air with a substantiallyuniform content of moisture is produced.

By the word capacity in my claims, I refer to the cubical capacity oftheindirect cooling chamber or chambers as compared to the cubicalcapacity of the direct or firststage chamber or chambers, asdistinguished from greater refrigerating capacity.

Many changes may be made in the form and arrangement of the preliminarycooling chamber or chambers, as Well as in the refrigerating apparatus,without departing from my invention.

I claim:

1. The method of drying air, consisting in passing the air through acooling tower,

subjecting it therein tothe direct action of Water to reduce itsmoisture content, then passing it through a refrigerating chamber orchambers of greater capacity than the direct-action tower at'a speed nogreater than that in the cooling tower, and reducing the moisturetherein to less than two and. one-half grains per cubic foot, and thenfeeding the dried air to a metallurgical apparatus, substantially asdescribed.

2. The method of drying air, consisting in passing it through a coolingtower, subs jecting it therein to the direct action of artificiallycooled water spray, then feeding it through a refrigerating chamber orchambers of greater capacity than the direct-action tower at a speed nogreater than that in the cooling tower, and reducing the moisturetherein'to less than two and one-half grains per cubic foot, and thenfeeding the dried air to a metallurgical apparatus, substantially asdescribed.

3. The method of drying air, consisting in passing it first through acooling tower or towers, subjecting it therein to the direct action of'water, then feeding it through a refrigerating chamber or chambers ofgreater capacity than the direct-action tower at a speed less than thatin the cooling chambers, wherein it is exposed to the cooling channelsor pipes and its moisture reduced to below two and one-half grains percubic foot, and then raising the pressure and forcing it to ametallurgical apparatus, substantially as described.

4:. The method of drying air, consisting in passing it through a coolingtower, subjecting it therein to the action of artificially cooled waterat a temperature of about 35 F., then passing it through a refrigeratingchamber of greater capacity, whereby the current of air is retardedtherein, and then feeding the dried air'to a metallurgical apparatus,substantially as described. 3

5. The method of drying air, consisting in passing it through a coolingtower, subjecting it therein to the action of artificially cooled waterat a' temperature of about. 35

than in the coollng tower through a refrig-' erating chamber of greatercapacity than the direct-action tower, and reducing the moisture thereinto less than two and onehalf grains per cubic foot by reducing thetemperature of the air toor below a temperature of zero degrees (1, andthen feeding the dried air to a metallurgical apparatus, substantiallyas described.

in feeding it upwardly through a cooling tower, subjecting it therein toa spray or rain of artificially cooled water, then supplying pressurethereto and forcing it refrigerating pipes or devices, reducing it to orbelow zero degrees C. therein, and then raising its pressure and forcingit to a metallurgical apparatus, substantially as described.

7. The method of drying air, consisting in spraying the air preliminaryto its enteringa cooling tower, then-feeding the air upwardly through acooling tower and subjecting it therein to the direct action ofartificially cooled water, then' feeding the air F., then passing it ata speed no'greater 6. The method of drying air, consisting I through achamber or chambers containing stages, consisting in spraying the airwith from the cooling tower through a refrigerating apparatus containingrefrigerating pipes or devices, and then feeding said dried air to ametallurgical apparatus, substantially as describe 8.'In the drying ofair, the steps consisting of feeding it through a, cooling tower,subjecting it therein to the direct action of water, collecting thewater from I the cooling tower, returning and re-using a portion of saidwater in the sprays within the tower, and spraying the air on its way.to the tower with surplus water collected from the tower, substantiallyas described.-

I 9. The method of drying air inthree stages, consisting in firstspraying the air with water, then feeding it to a cooling tower, passingit upwardly therethrough, subjecting it to a dropping spray or rain ofartificially cooled water therein, then- :teeding it througharefrigerating chamber or chambers, and then feeding the dried air to ametallurgicalapparatus, substantially asv described.

10. The method of drying air in three water, then passing the airupwardly through a cooling tower, and exposing itto artificially cooledwater' descending in a spray therein, passingit through a refrigeratingchamber or chambers, and reducing" it to or below zero degrees C., andutilizing waste water from the tower for the preliminary spraying of thefirst stage, substantially as described.

. 1-1. The method of drying air, consisting. in passing the air througha cooling tower, subjecting it therein to the direct action of water toreduce its moisture content, then passing it through a refrigeratingchamber or chambers of greater capacity than the direct action tower ataspeed no greater than that in the cooling tower, and reducing themoisture therein to less than two and one-half grains per cubic foot,and then raising its pressure and forcing it to a metallurgicalapparatus, substantially as described.

tower, subjecting it therein to the direct action of droppingartificially cooled water spray, then passing it through a refrigeratmgchamber or chambers, where it is oX- posed to cooling channels or pipesand its moisture reduced to below' two and onehalf grains per cubicfoot, and then raising the pressure and forcing it to a metallurgicalapparatus, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

JAMES GAYLEY.

Witnesses:

W. S. REED, JOHN H. GEWECKE.

